Remember this in the case that we're all living in shanty towns in five years -- Forbes has some remarkably good predictions for Arizona's economy.
Forbes projects that Arizona will have faster job growth over the next five years than any other state in the nation.
What percentage of those new jobs include operating the fryolator at Burger King? It's not specified.
Here's what they do say, though:
The economic picture has brightened considerably in Arizona, as the housing market stabilized and unemployment hit a post-recession low of 7.8 percent in May. As part of Forbes' annual Best States for Business, we look at 35 factors to determine the best and worst states, including projected employment. Arizona is expected to have the fastest job growth at 3 percent annually over the next five years, according to Moody's Analytics. The job gains are projected to boost household incomes 3.6 percent annually through 2017, which ranks second best in the U.S. after Illinois. The added jobs also go hand-in-hand with the state's economic growth, which Moody's forecasts to expand at a U.S.-best 4.6 percent annually.Put that information in a time capsule and open that bad boy in 2018.
A little optimism doesn't hurt, especially a week after the Census Bureau revealed Arizona's high-poverty problem.
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